Eddie Cole. Photo by Tim “Fabricated” Hasta.

Eddie Cole was 18 years from being born when his great uncle died. Nat King Cole, who at age 45 succumbed to lung cancer, left an indelible legacy as an accomplished jazz pianist, singer and as one of the first African-Americans to host a national TV variety show.

Now 33 and based in Long Beach, the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist carries the name with pride. At the moment, he is busily preparing for a worldwide tour as the musical director for Alina Baraz and Galimatias. Cole also fronts the Long Beach-based future-soul group Z (formerly known as Mulatto), who caught the attention of Nas about five years ago and has since performed as his tour band. 

Raised as an only child in the Inland Empire, he was surrounded by music from birth. Both his parents are music professionals — his mother Laura Cole, an opera singer, multi-instrumentalist and lifelong teacher, and his father Eddie Cole Sr., a multi-instrumentalist who has worked with the likes of Ray Charles, Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole.

“I tried to fight it for a while,” Eddie said about his ancestry. “I tried to go by a different alias, but I’m over it. That was my younger, more rebellious days. Now I understand what he’s done and what my parents have done to give me that name. I want to do great things with it.”

Cole, who plays the drums, piano and bass, grew up singing in church choirs, performing with the worship band and dabbling in his father’s home studio, which he basically took over by middle school. He remembers the long car rides to and back from LA listening to gospel and old-school tunes with his parents, who he credits for building the early foundations for his musical prowess and vocal chops. 

“They would break out into two-part harmonies and I’d start singing and they’d try to help me,” he remembered. “Driving back and forth with my parents from Rialto to LA, those were my greatest music lessons. I learned some great things in that car.”

When he’s not on tour, Cole stays grounded in Long Beach, playing small venues in the local circuit. Next Thursday, the independent artist will take the stage at the Prospector with special guests joining him. He’ll be performing a motley of songs from his solo discography — including his latest full-length Inertia: the art of motion and 2014’s EP Godspeed. 

Bootleg Orchestra. Photo by Menchie Caliboso.

Joining the night are Long Beach’s own jazz-electronic project Bootleg Orchestra, led by producer Menchie Caliboso and vocalist/trumpeter Vanessa Acosta, and R&B/soul band The Black Noise, led by vocalist Donovan Brown and guitarist Victor Ujadughele.  

“I love the art, the thrill of the performance,” he said. “I just want to play wherever I can, whenever I can right now. I’m not too big for anything, and nothing’s too small. It’s about getting better and improving your art.”

The Black Noise. Photo by Epicz.

“I won’t give my soul up for some money or bigger opportunity,” he continued. “I gotta stay true to me. Prospector is like Madison Square Garden — I’ll play it just the same.” 

Eddie Cole will perform with special guests at the Prospector on May 19, along with Bootleg Orchestra and The Black Noise. Tickets are $5 at the door.